Safety operating control for machines



March 1944- B. J. YANCHENKO 2,344,763

SAFETY OPERATING CONTROL FOR MACHINES Filed Sept. 17, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BASIL J. YANCHENKO QMM ATTORNEYS March 21, 1944. a. J. YANCHENKO SAFETY OPERATING CONTROL FOR MACHINES Filed Sept. 17, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.4

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Y 8 O B March 21, 1944. B, J. YANCHENKO 2,344,763

SAFETY OPERATING CONTROL FOR MACHINES Filed Sept. 17, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BASIL J. YANCHENKO ywwfifl/ ATTOR EYS Patented Mar. 21, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFNZE SAFETY OPERATING CONTROL FOR MACHINES Application September 17, 1941, Serial No. 411,202

7 Claims. (Cl. 192-131) This invention relates to machines having an operating movement dangerous to the operator, as machines having an opening and closing movement, as for example, cutting machines having a knife movable toward and from a work table, presses having a movable press head, etc., and has for its object a pneumatic safety mechanism, preferably controlled by a two hand control mechanism, which pneumatic mechanism operates to start the machine upon the operation of the two hand control, and also positively stop it, if one or both manuals of the two hand control are released, while the machine is in the dangerous period of its operating cycle.

It further has for its object a pneumatic or power mechanism embodying two pressure operated motors acting oppositely on a control memher or lever of the machine, one motor being controlled by the two hand control, and the other being under continuous energization, the former motor being of sufficiently greater force, when energized, to overcome the latter, and hence operate the control member or lever of the machine against the restraining and returning action of the latter motor.

It further has for its object a power operated inching mechanism operable to originally locate the movable element of the machine, as a knife, when a replacement knife is being installed.

Other objects appear throughout the specification.

The invention is here illustrated as embodied in a paper cutting machine, known as a square cutter, but is applicable to other machines having an operating movement dangerous to the operator.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front; perspective view of a socalled square cutter embodying the invention, a two hand control being shown diagrammatically.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, of the clutch and brake mechanism and cont guous parts, and the power or pneumatic operating means for the clutch and brake.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the master valve of the two hand control and contiguous parts taken approximately on the plane of line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged diagrammatic detail view of the inching mechanism for precision setting of the knife.

Figure 5 is a view showing a modification of the control mechanism shown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing mechanism for cutting out the motor of the machine when a valve is operated to cut in the inching mechanism and cut out the master valve of the two hand control.

The square cutter here illustrated itself forms no part of the invention. The invention relates to the two hand control power control mechanism for actuating mechanism of the machine. The square cutter is used primarily to accurately cut photographic films and is operated in a dark room illuminated only by red bulbs.

The square cutter here illustrated, to which the invention is applied, comprises a suitable supporting frame, a head or frame l, for a knife 2 vertically and longitudinally movable in guides 3 toward and from a work table 4, and actuating mechanism for the knife carrying frame or head and other moving parts of the machine. The machine is provided with'a suitable gage G for locating the film relatively to the knife. The gage is adjustable by mechanism including a hand wheel W.

The actuating mechanism includes a drive shaft 5 and transmission mechanism including a transmission or counter shaft 6, both suitably mounted in the frame of the machine, means, as intermeshing gears l, t on said shafts for transmitting the power from the drive to the transmission shaft, and a clutch operable to connect and disconnect the drive and the transmission shafts.

The motion of the transmission shaft is translated to the reciprocating knife head or frame I through suitable mechanism, as connecting rods 9, I connected at like ends to cranks ll, ii! at opposite ends of the shaft 5 and at their other ends at l3, H to the knife head I.

I5 designates the shiftable member or section of the clutch, this being slidably keyed to the drive shaft 5 and shiftable axially thereof into and out of engagement with a complemental clutch member or section I 6 rotatable with the drive gear or pinion l, which is rotatably mounted on the drive shaft 5. I1 is a brake band coacting with a brake drum I 8 on the driven clutch section It.

Heretofore, in machines of this type, the clutch section l5 has been operated or controlled by a lever L she in dotted lines (Figure 3.), lever operating to release the brake, when the clutch is being engaged, and to apply the brake when the clutch is being disengaged.

in the power or pneumatic control mechanism forming the subject matter of this invention, this lever L is displaced by a power or pneumatically operated control member or lever, the power or pneumatic mechanism being controlled by a two hand control mechanism.

it designates the control member or lever, this being shown as keyed to an operating shaft 29 rotatably mounted in the machine frame, and as connected at one end to a motor to be described, and as having an angular arm 2! coacting with the shifting collar 22 on the sleeve or hub 23 of the shiftahle clutch section id. The lever 99 is connected to the brake band ii to operate it through suitable means, as a link it, pivotally connected at 25 to one arm of a brake operating lever dd pivoted between its ends at 2? to the machine frame and at its other end at 28 to one end of the brake hand.

jlfhe clutch and brake are operated by pressure or pneumatic devices or motors acting oppositely on the lever 63. separate units. each consisting of a cylinder and piston, the cylinder and piston, which act to engage the clutch and release the brake, acting with suticiently greater force on the shiftable clutch section 9 through the lever 59, than the cylinder and piston acting to disengage the clutch and apply the brake.

2t, designate the cylinder and piston operating to engage the clutch and release the brake; Si, 82 designate the cylinder and piston operating to disengage the clutch and release the brake. The rod 533 of the piston 30 is pivoted at 31 to the lever i9, and the rod 35 of the piston 32 is pivoted at St, the lever i9 nearer the shaft 20 the pivot 53 3. The cylinder 29 is connected to a main power line or conduit 31 through a mas= ter valve controlled by the two hand control mechanism; and the cylinder 35 is connected in constant communication with a source of pressure fluid or the main line 31. When the valve 538 is opened by the operation of the two hand control and the air flows through the valve 88 and conduit 38 to the cylinder 29, actuates the piston so, and hence the lever is to shift the clutch 55 in and release the brake band ii. The pressure on the piston 3d through the lever l 9 being sumciently greater than that on the piston 32 to overcome the pressure on the piston 32. At any time the pressure in the cylinder ill is released, the piston 32 under constant pres- I sure re-acts to throw out the clutch and apply through the conduit 39. In Figure 5 to be described, a counter weight is used to perform the function of the spring.

The valve 38 is operated by a two hand control, and held open .by the two hand control aprodetermined period in the operating cycle of the machine, and held open during the remainder of the cycle, by a part, as a cam, actuated 'by the transmission mechanism of the machine. The

These are here shown as two assgvcs predetermined period is while the knife 2 is room lug down to perform the cutting operation. During the upward or return movement of the knife. the part or cam holds the valve 3t open, so that at the end of the down or cutting movement of the me, the two hand control may be released, but the machine will complete its return or opening movement.

The valve 33 is of the combined intake and exhaust type and comprises a movable member 62 in the casing having a normally closed intake valve head 63 and a normally open exhaust valve head 34, and a spring 65 holding the valve memher 52 in its normal position. The valve member {$2 is, as here shown, operated against the spring by a lever 26 pivoted at ti to the valve casing and having a pin thrusting against the end of a stem 38 on the movable member 22 of the valve. The lever may be actuated by the two hand control in any suitable manner, here shown, as by a diaphragm t9 located in a diaphragm chamber 59 and thrusting against the head of a sliding plunger 5 which in turn thrusts against the lever it, or an adjustable thrust screw thereon. The fiow of air to the pressure side of the diaphragm chamber 50 is through a pipe 52 having a pilot valve 53 (Figure l) therein, which is operated by thetwo hand control.

The two hand control may be of any suitable construction, that here shown being of the type shown in the Page Patent No. 2,046,531, dated July "I, 1936. It includes generally a lever or whiflle-tree 5t pivoted at 55 between its ends and also a bodily rectilinear movement, due to a slot 56 therein, through which the pivot extends, a pair of manuals, means for transferring the operating movements of the manuals to opposite ends of the lever, and means for transferring the rectilinear movement only of the lever 56 to the pilot valve 53. The lever 54 has an angular arm 5'! normally in line with a sliding plunger 58 which thrusts against the stem 59 of the movable valve member of the pilot valve 53 and which operates the plunger to open the pilot valve, when the lever is actuated rectilinearly by the operation of both manuals simultaneously,

but which shifts out of alinement with the plunger upon tilting movement of the lever 55 effected by the operation of only one manual.

58, (ii designate the manuals. The operating movement of the manuals is transferred to the opposite ends of the lever 54 through pressureoperated devices instead of directly thereto through mechanical connections, as links, as in the Page patent above referred to.

The pressure-operated devices are here shown as of the cylinder and piston type. 52, 63 designate the cylinders; 54, 6'5 the pistons in the cylinders respectively, and having their rods pivoted at 66, 51 to opposite ends of the lever 56* The pistons are preferably acted upon by returning springs 68, 69.

The flow of pressure fluid to the cylinder is controlled by valves l0, H, the movable members of which are operated by the manuals 50, 5|, which are usually of the push button type. Pipes or hose l2, l3 connect the'outlet of the valves and the cylinders 62, 63. The pilot valve 53 and valves 10, H are connected by pipes or hose I5, 16 to the main air line 31.

The master valve lever 46 has a roller 11 coacting with a cam on the transmission shaft 6. The cam has a dwell surface 18 and a lift both manuals 60, 6|, the valves 10,1: will be i opened to the intake of air through the pipes 12, 13 and closed to the exhaust of air, so that air passes through the pipes 12, 13 to the cylinders 82, 83, actuating the pistons therein to shift the lever 54' rectilinearly without tilting. The-rectilinear movement operates the movable member 38 therein. This operation of the piston effects the throwing in of the clutch section I and the release of the brake band I1. The drive shaft 5 is now clutched to the small gear or pinion 1, so that it drives the transmission shaft 8 through the gear 8. The transmissio shaft actuates the knife carrying head I, as previously explained, or as in any square cutter of this type.

The motion of the diaphragm 48 is transferred to the movable member of the valve 38 through the lever 48, hence when the valve 38 is opened,

the roller 11 on the lever 48 is moved radially away from the dwell surface 18 and will remain separated therefrom as long as the operator holds manuals 88, BI depressed, while the roller is opposite the dwell portion. The roller is opposed to the dwell surface 18 whil the knife is moving down toward and through the work being cut. When the down or cutting movement of the knife is completed, the roller comes opposite the lift surface 18 of the cam, so that the operator can release, the manuals, and the valve 38 will be held open during the opening or up movement of the knife, until the roller 11 again gets back into starting position (Figure 3) at the advance end (with respect to the direction of rotation of the shaft 6, as indicated by the arrow--Figure 3) of the dwell surface 18.

The operation of only one manual results in a tilting of the lever 54 and shifting of the arm 51 laterally out of line with the pilot valve operating plunger 58. Obviously, the subsequent operation of the other manual would be ineffective to operate the plunger 58 and the substantially simultaneous operation of both manuals required to open the pilot valve 53 or effect the operation of the machine. Upon the 'closing,of the intake valve head 42 and opening of the exhaust valve head 44 of the valve 38, the air exhausts from the cylinder 28 back through pipe 38 andout through the exhaust passage 44* controlled by A feature of this invention in connection with the pneumatic control is a pneumatic power mechanism for inching the actuating mechanism when installing a knife. This mechanism consists of power means for releasing the brake and inching the transmission shaft 8 when the clutch is disengaged. The drive shaft is, however, usually disconnected from its power drive when a knife is being installed. This consists of a pressure motor, as a cylinder 88 and piston 8|, the piston rod having a head 82 at its outer end formed with a ratchet tooth 83 for coacting with the teeth of the gear 8 during each power impluse on the piston 8I. The piston moves in a general direction tangentially to the gear 8 and the cylinder 88 is pivoted at 84 to have an oscillating movement during reciprocation of the piston. The oscillating movement is resisted by a spring 85-. Thi piston is single-acting, and it is returned to starting position by a spring 86.

The brake releasing means comprises a cylinder 81 and piston 88 therein having its rod 88 connected at 88 to the lever 26. The cylinder 81 is pivoted at 8| to the frame of the machine. The piston is single-acting, and it is returned to starting or normal position by a spring 92 con- .nected to the lever 28. The cylinders 88, 81 are connected in parallel in th pipes 83, 84.

As seen in Figure 4, the flow through the'pipes 83, 84 from a pipe 88 connected in the power line power line through 31, may be controlled by a manually operable valve 88 of the combined intake and exhaust type or a construction similar to that of the valve 38. Upon the operation of the valve by the manual 81, air enters both cylinders 81, 88 to release the brake, and cause the gear 8 tube rotated an amount equal to the throw'of the piston 8I. An operation of the manual is required for each throw of the piston 8I or each inching operation.

The flow to the cylinders 88, 81 may be effected by operating the two hand control man-' so that compressed air from the pilot valve 53 may be directed to the diaphragm chamber 58, or to the'inching cylinders 88, 81. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the four-way valve 88 is normally set to direct the compressed airto the diaphragm chamber 58, whileth inching cylinders 88, 81 are connected to the exhaust port I88 of the four-way valve 88. If the'four-way valve 98 is set to the dotted line position, as shown in Figure 3, the compressed air from the two hand controlled pilot valve 53 will be directed to the.

inching cylinders 88, 81 and the diaphragm chamber 58 of the master valve 38 will be open to atmosphere through th exhaust port I88 of the valve 89. To insure power cut off of the electric motor. which drives the shaft of the machine, during inching operation, the four-way valve 99 may have interlocking connections which open the switch I of the electric motor I88 which actuates the drive shaft 5 of the machine. These connections may be links I81 between the switch operating lever I81 and an arm actuated by the handle I88 of the cut-out valve 88.

As previously described herein, in the event of the compressed air failure during descending movement of the cutting knife, the spring 48 in the cylinder 28 will return the operating lever breakage, etc. In the modifled form shown in Figure 5, the spring 40 is replaced by, a counterweight H0. The counterweightd I is adjustably mounted on the lever III, which freely rocks on the operating shaft 20. As previously mentioned, the operating lever is is keyed to the shaft 2!, thus rotation of the shaft 20 will actuate the lever ll. On one end of the shaft 20 is keyed a cam H2 for coacting with a lug 3 of the counterweight lever Ill. The lever llil is held in its uplifted position wherever the cam H2 is spaced from the lug Ill and the control member I O normally free of the lever I II and weight M0, by the air pressure in thecylinder H4, which has a direct source of the compressed air supply from the air line I! through the pipe Hi. When compressed air in the main air line is suflicient to operate the machine, the air pressure in cylinder Ill urges the piston Ill upward and through the piston rod Ill pivoted to the lever III at 8 overcomes the gravity of the weight I and releases the cam 2 thus permitting the free operation of the shaft 20. The other end of the cylinder II! is pivoted to the machine frame at 9. In the event of compressed air failure, the counterweight 0 drops, and the lug I I! of the counterweight lever ill engages the cam H2 and throws the shaft 20 and lever l l in inoperative position and stops the machine. The cam H2 and lug 3 being normally spaced apart from a lost-motion.c0rmection which must be taken up by dropping of the weight lever l l l in order that the lever Ill may actuate the control member into its starting position, the lost motion is taken up when the air pressure fails.

What I claim is: A I

1. In a machine embodying an element having ator during at least a portion ofits cycle of movement, transmission mechanism for actuating said element, a drive shaft, a clutch for com trolling the actuation ofthe transmission mechanism by the drive shaft including a shiftable member, and a brake for stopping said mecha-- i an operator-operated valve for controlling the an operating movement dangerous to the operator during a portion of its cycle of movement, transmission mechanism for actuating said element, a drive shaft, a clutch for controlling the actuation of the transmission mechanism by the driveshaft including a shiftable member, and a brake for stopping said mechanism when the clutch is released; the combination of power means for controlling the clutch and brake operation including a control member connected to the shiftable clutch member and to the brake, pressure motors, conduits through which motive fluid is supplied to the motors respectively, the motors acting in opposite directions on said control member, one to shift the same to engage the clutch and release the brake, and the other to release the clutch and apply the brake, the motor operating to engage the clutch and operating with-sufliciently greater force on the control than on the other member to overcome the latter, a normally closed valve in the conduit supplying the former motor, the latter motor being r in open communication through the other conduit with the source of motive fluid two hand its cycle of movement to hold the valve open during the remainder of the cycle of movement of the machine. 2. In a machine embodying an element having flow of motive fluid to ,the motor.

3. In a machine embodying an element having an operating movement dangerous to the opera- -tor during at least a portion of its cycle of movement, transmission mechanism foractuating said element, a driveshaft, a clutch for controlling the actuation of the transmission mechanism by the drive shaft including a shiftable member, and a brake for stopping said mechanism when the clutch is released; the combination of power means for controlling the clutch and brake operation including a control member, pressure motors acting inopposite directions on said control member, one to shift the same to engage the clutch and release the brake, and the other to release the clutch and apply the brake, operatoroperated means for controlling the flow of motive fluid to the motor operating to engage the clutch,

means for actuating the transmission mechanism :,independently of the drive shaft and the clutch,

when the clutch is released, and for releasing the brake, comprising a reciprocating, single-acting motor coacting with a portion of the transmissiommechanism, the motor including a spring for returning its reciprocating member to starting position, a second motor acting on the brake to release the same, a motive fluid conduit for the motors in which the motors are connected in parallel, and valve means for controlling the flow of motive fluid through the conduit.

4. In a machine embodying an element having an operating movement dangerous to the operator during at least a portion of its cycle of movement, transmission mechanism for actuating said element, driving means for the transmission mechanism, and means for controlling the actuation of the transmission mechanism and the stopping of the same including a shiftable control member shiftable in one direction to start and actuate the transmission mechanism, and back in the opposite direction to starting position to stop the same, a feed line fora pressure fluid, pressure fluid motors acting in opposite directions on said control member, the motor acting 'on the control member to start and actuate the transmission mechanism acting with sumciently greater force on the control member than the other motor to overcome the latter, the latter being in open communication with the feed line,

a counterweight connected thereto by a lost motion connection permitting the control member to be operated independently of the weight, and a pressure-operated motor connected in the feed line and having its movable member connected to the counterweight to normally hold it at the beginning of its lost motion connection and per mit it, upon failure of pressure in the last-mentioned pressure-operated motor, to take up the lost motion and actuate the control member to starting position.

an op r ing movement dang rous to the opeir- 5. In a machine embodying an element having an operating movement dangerous to the op-' erator during at least a portion of its cycle of movement, transmission mechanism for actuating said element, driving means for the transmission mechanism, means for controlling the actuation of the transmission mechanism and the stopping of the same including a shiftable control member, a feed line for a pressure fluid, pressure-operated motor means for actuating the control member, pressure-operated motor means for inching the transmission mechanism independently of the driving means, a conduit system for a motive fluid having a master valve therein for controlling the flow of fluid to the motor means operating the control member, and conduits for controlling the flow of motive fluid to the motor means of the inching mechanism, a change-over and cut-out valve in said conduits normally arranged to cut in the master valve and cut out the flow of air to the inching motor means and shiftable into the reverse position, and a two hand control mechanism. operable to permit the flow of air to the master valve through the change-over valve or to the inching mechanism through the change-over valve.

6. In a machine embodying an element having an operating movement dangerous to the operator during at least a portion of its cycle of movement, transmission mechanism for actuating said element, driving means for the transmission mechanism, means for controlling the actuation of the transmission mechanism and the stopping of the same including a shiftable control member, a feed line for a pressure fluid, pressure-operated motor means for actuating the control member, pressure-operated motor means for inching the transmission mechanism independently of the driving means, a conduit system for a motive fluid having a master valve therein for controlling. the flow of fluid to the motor means operating the control member, and conduits for controlling the flow o1 motive fluid to the motor means of the inching mechanism, a change-over and cut-out valve in said conduit system normally arranged to cut in the master valve and cut out the flow of air to the inching motor means and shiftable into the reverse position, a two hand control mechanism operable to permit the flow of air to the master valve through the change-over valve or to the inching mechanism through the change-over valve, the machine having an electric motor for the driving mechanism of the machine, a switch in the circuit of said motor, and means operated by the shifting of the change-over and cut-out switch when operated to cut out the master valve, to open said switch '7. In a machine embodying an element having an operating movement dangerous to the operator during at least a portion of its cycle of movement, transmission mechanism for actuating said element, a drive shaft, a clutch for controlling the actuation of the transmission mechanism by the drive shaft including a shiftable member, and a brake for stopping said mechanism, when the clutch is released; the combination of power means for controlling the clutch and brake operations including a shifting lever coacting with the shiftable clutch member to shift the same, a pressure motor connected to said lever to actuate the same in one direction to shirt the clutch "m," a second pressure motor connected to the brake to apply the same, and connections between the second motor and said lever to actuate the same in a direction opposite to that in which it is actuated by the first motor, the first motor operating with sumciently greater force on said lever to overcome the force of the second motor, the second motor being in open communication with a source of motive fluid, and operator-operated means ibr controlling the flow of motive fluid to the first motor.

BASIL J. YANCHENKO. 

